New Orleans, La. - USA Wrestling, in conjunction with Kurt Angle and GNC, is proud to present the Kurt Angle Classic, which will take place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La., November 8-10, 2002.    The event will be part of the "Show of Strength", a competition that will include body building, power lifting, arm wrestling and a strong man contest. Included will be a hall with over 300 exhibits of products, supplements and other resources useful in athletics.    "I am excited and honored to be hosting this event along with USA Wrestling," stated Angle, who after capturing Olympic gold in 1996 went on to become a WWE superstar. "This is my way of giving back to the sport of wrestling. It should be an incredible atmosphere and putting the top wrestlers in the world against each other should help the sport of wrestling as well."    The Kurt Angle Classic, set up in a "USA vs. The World" format, will spotlight internationally known Olympic and World Champion athletes in the three Olympic styles of wrestling: men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle.    All wrestlers will be paid to compete, with bonuses available to the winners. In all, the total purse for the event will exceed $75,000.    "USA Wrestling is excited to host the first-ever Kurt Angle Classic," stated Pete Isais, USA Wrestling Director of National Events. "It is a great way for our athletes to earn more money this season. This event has been further enhanced due to the fact that our men's freestyle World Team was unable to   compete at the 2002 World Championships, so this will may be the only time some of these athletes get to see a competitor of this caliber for a while."    There will be three sessions of competition. In session one, a team comprised of military wrestlers from the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy will face a team composed of wrestlers from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.    Sessions two and three will pit the top U.S. stars in all three Olympic styles against some of the top international competitors in the world. In men's freestyle and Greco-Roman, all but two 2002 U.S. World Team members have committed to compete in the event, including Cael Sanderson. In addition, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner, who missed the 2002 season due to injury, will also compete.    There will also be two featured women's freestyle matches will be held, and 2002 U.S. World Team members Patricia Miranda and Toccara Montgomery have committed to compete in those matches. Both Miranda and Montgomery have captured World medals.    The U.S. team will also feature Olympic medalist Brandon Paulson and World medalist Joe Williams.    The international athletes are expected to feature stars from the 2002 World Championships and other events from a variety of nations.    Wrestling will take place in an entertaining atmosphere. Matches will be enhanced with music, up-close interviews and cutting-edge production techniques that are certain to make this one of the most fan-friendly and stunning amateur wrestling events ever.    For more information on the Kurt Angle Classic, visit www.showofstrength.com.    Athletes who have committed to compete in the Kurt Angle Classic are:    Men's Freestyle  55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams (Coralville, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  97 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tim Hartung (St. Paul, Minn./Minnesota Storm)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC)    Men's Greco-Roman  55 kg/121 lbs. - Brandon Paulson (Anoka, Minn./Minnesota Storm)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)  74 kg/163 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo./Sunkist Kids)    Women's Freestyle  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/Sunkist Kids)